Simon Tuit, a South African Actor made history with one kiss! This kiss was the first of it’s kind on the popular soap 7de Laan because the co-stars were men!
7de Laan made history by airing it’s first ever gay kiss. The backlash that hit social media after the historic episode was heart breaking and could have caused a lot of damage for the LGBT youth of South Africa! Simon Tuit who plays Logan in the soap wrote an open letter to the LGBT youth to let them know that the community would support and love them no matter what their family and neighbours thought!
While the kiss is not a first in South African television history, it is a first for the soap in it’s 17 year running. Equality for every living person was officially established in the post-apartheid constitution in 1996! The homophobic backlash after the episode was aired is an outdated reaction, one that should be left in the past!
As South African’s we have one of the most outstanding human rights commissions and our laws are completely inclusive of every human being. With that said many citizens today still receive hate in many forms. This is why Simon Tuit took to writing the letter, to show support where support may be lacking.
The open letter is heartfelt and moving! It is the most important thing you should read today!
“It’s a very heartwarming thing to see so many people coming together and actively speaking out against homophobia, judgement and (frankly) plain cruelty and hate towards other human beings.”
“One small scene ended up causing such a stir and brought people from all over the country together with such camaraderie and it proved that even in “conservative” South Africa – love and acceptance won the day.”
While there was a massive backlash against the episode, with people calling to cancel the show. An equally massive backlash against the homophobic attacks occurred, with citizens standing together to dispel the hate.
“This letter isn’t directed at those who cried for 7de Laan to be banned or who said they’ll never watch the show again or how disgusted they were by seeing two men kissing. As much as your hateful response saddens me and as much as I hope that my words will somehow strike a chord in your heart.”
“I realize the odds of me changing your point of view are very slim. But do please remember the words of Nelson Mandela: “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion (and by extension being any form of “queer”). People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Simon Tuit quotes Nelson Mandela’s famous quote about how hate is taught and that love comes easier. Nelson Mandela always preached loved and fought hard against hate.
“Thank you to the wonderful fans (gay, straight and in between) who wholeheartedly applauded and cheered on Logan & Divan and stood up against homophobia in that epic social media comment battle. Looking back in history, it’s the people like you who bring about change in the world.”
“People like you make it possible that today, equal rights are not just a lip service. We are meant to be one of the most forward thinking societies in the world (at least in terms of the law) and have moved forward faster than many other countries in terms of equality.”
The South African actor ends off his heartfelt letter reminding the LGBT youth that when the day comes, the day they embrace their truest self, they are not alone!
“So on the day when you’re ready to take that step (and yes it will be terrifying) – when you’re ready to heave that burden from your shoulders and to accept yourself and love yourself for who you are – remember that there is a community (of decent human beings, gay and straight and other) – and we’re here for you.”
We appluade Simon Tuit and every person that honoured that historic kiss with love, tolerance and acceptance.
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